Closure cap for closing a container

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a closure cap for closing the pouring opening of a container, comprising a cylindrical threaded part including an open rim and an internal thread, which can cooperate with an external thread of a container neck of the container, a tamper-evident band, which is designed to be held at a protrusion formed at the container neck, and a retaining device including a first and a second end, the first end being fixedly connected to the open rim of the threaded part, and the second end being fixedly connected to the tamper-evident band. The retaining device comprises two first outer retaining strips and at least one second inner retaining strip, the at least one second retaining strip being arranged between the first retaining strips, and the first retaining strips being longer than the at least one second retaining strip.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase entry under 37 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT/EP2020/050207 filed Jan. 7, 2020, which claims priority to Swiss Patent Application No. 00005/19 filed Jan. 7, 2019, and Swiss Patent Application No. 01467/19 filed Nov. 20, 2019, and Swiss Patent Application No. 01695/19 filed Dec. 23, 2019, the entirety of each of which is incorporated by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a closure cap for closing the pouring opening of a container and to a container with such a closure cap.

PRIOR ART

From the prior art, closure caps that are captively retained on the container and close the pouring opening thereof are known from the field of plastic closure caps including a tamper-evident band. Such closure caps, however, have the disadvantage that, in the open state, the closure caps held on the container impede the operation of the container. For example, the closure cap can be in the way when pouring liquid from the container, or the closure cap is in the way when the user drinks directly from the container.

The retaining function is also important since statutory provisions are already in place which require closures of beverage bottles to even be captively connected to the beverage bottle when open.

Advantages of the Invention

The invention as set forth herein provides a captive closure cap that does not present an impediment during any use whatsoever of the container to be closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A closure cap for closing the pouring opening of a container includes the features stated in the independent claims. Refinements and/or advantageous variant embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The invention includes a retaining device that comprises two first outer retaining strips and at least one second inner retaining strip, wherein the at least one second retaining strip is arranged between the first retaining strips, and the first retaining strips are longer than the at least one second retaining strip. The differing lengths of the first retaining strips and of the at least one second retaining strip allow the threaded part, after having been unscrewed from the container, to be urged into a position in which the threaded part is fixed. In this way, the play for movement of the threaded part is limited after having been unscrewed. The threaded part is not in the way when drinking from the container or when pouring liquid from the container.

In another embodiment the first retaining strips and the at least one second retaining strip can be extended from a first position, in which they are arranged within the tamper-evident band, into a second position, in which they are arranged outside the tamper-evident band. The retaining strips can be produced from the tamper-evident band and do not have to be additionally produced or attached to the tamper-evident band.

In another embodiment of the invention, the first retaining strips, in the first position, are formed within the tamper-evident band and have a C shape. The C shape makes it possible for the retaining strips to be folded in the first position, and to be located in an accordingly space-saving manner within the tamper-evident band, and to become unfolded in the second position when the threaded part is being unscrewed.

In another embodiment of the invention, the at least one second retaining strip, in the first position, is formed within the tamper-evident band and has a C shape. In this way, the at least one second retaining strip also has the advantages described in the paragraph above.

In another embodiment of the invention, the first retaining strips and the at least one second retaining strip cooperate so as to become latchingly engaged in the second position, whereby the threaded part is fixed when the first and second retaining strips are in the second position. The function of the latching engagement of the threaded part in the second position of the retaining strips can be achieved in a simple and surprising manner by cutting the retaining strips out of the tamper-evident band on the tamper-evident band by way of cuts having a predefined shape.

In another embodiment, the first retaining strips and the at least one second retaining strip form a snap-on hinge in that, in the second position, the at least one second retaining strip is bent, and the two first retaining strips are tensioned. The defined lengths of the retaining strips cause the at least one second retaining strip to become bent when the threaded part is being unscrewed, and the first retaining strips to be tensioned in the second position. In the process, the bent second retaining strip has a restoring force and tensions the first retaining strips. In this way, the threaded part is fixed in the second position. From the second position of the retaining strips, the threaded part can also be screwed onto the container again, so as to close it again, by overcoming the restoring force of the second retaining strip.

It has proven to be expedient when two second retaining strips are present. In this way, a stable snap-on hinge made of two first and two second retaining strips can be implemented.

In another embodiment of the invention, the first and second retaining strips are formed of the tamper-evident band by cuts on the tamper-evident band. The retaining strips thus do not have to be arranged as additional elements at the tamper-evident band and the threaded part, but can be cut out of the tamper-evident band. The C shape can be produced particularly easily by way of cuts.

In the first position, the second retaining strips are in each case expediently separated from the first retaining strips by a first cut. The first and second retaining strips bear against one another, separated only by the first cut, and require only little space on the tamper-evident band. In this way, it is also possible to keep the number of cuts low.

Expediently, a web is formed between the second retaining strips at the tamper-evident band. As a result of the web including C-shaped indentations, which stem from the C-shaped arcs of the second retaining strips, the second retaining strips at the web are held on the web before the closure cap is opened for the first time. A radial force, which arises when the threaded part is being unscrewed, is necessary to pull and the second retaining strips out of the web and unfold them. It is also conceivable that the arcs are only separated from one another by a cut, and thus no web is present at the tamper-evident band.

In another embodiment of the invention, the first and second retaining strips each comprise a first and a second leg, wherein the first and second legs are connected to one another by an arc, and the first legs have first ends, which are fixedly connected to the open rim of the threaded part, and the second legs have second ends, which are fixedly connected to the tamper-evident band. The retaining strips are arranged within the tamper-evident band in the folded state and can be unfolded when the threaded part is being unscrewed in that the first and second legs are pulled apart. In the second position, the first and second retaining strips assume a predefined length so as to implement a snap-on hinge.

As a result of the first and second legs, in the first position, being advantageously separated from one another by a respective second cut, it is possible to produce the first and second retaining strips at the tamper-evident band by way of just a few cuts having a certain length and shape. The second cuts may have a horizontal orientation extending in the direction of the open rim of the threaded part.

Expediently, the arcs of the first retaining strips or the arcs of the second retaining strips face one another in the first position. In this way, the retaining strips can be arranged at the tamper-evident band or be cut out of the same in the most space-saving manner possible.

It is advantageous when the first retaining strips are in each case separated from the tamper-evident band by way of a third cut. The third cuts may be vertically oriented. In this way, the first ends of the first retaining strips are separated from the taper-evident band and can be detached from the tamper-evident band.

The second retaining strips are in each case expediently separated from the tamper-evident band by way of a fourth cut. The fourth cuts, together with the first cuts, are designed such that first and second ends form at the second retaining strips, which connect the second retaining strips to the threaded part or the tamper-evident band.

In another embodiment, the first and fourth cuts are C-shaped. In this way, arcs are formed at the first and second retaining strips, at which the retaining strips can be unfolded starting from the first position.

Expediently, the second cuts of the first retaining strips and the third cuts, or the first cuts, and the second cuts of the second retaining strips are connected to one another. In this way, the first and second retaining strips can be unfolded from the first position.

In another embodiment, a plurality of protrusions are formed on the inside of the tamper-evident band, and the first and second retaining strips are formed of the tamper-evident band above the protrusions. The protrusions are not in the way of the first and second retaining strips since they are formed in the lower band region, while the retaining strips are arranged in the upper band region. The tamper-evident band may have a height between 4 and 8 mm or between 5 and 6 mm.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tamper-evident band includes slots that are distributed across the circumference and have an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the upper edge is formed by a circular arc-shaped section of the tamper-evident band, and the lower edge is formed by a wall section that is inclined inwardly in the radial direction, and the lower edge of each slot forms the engagement means for a form-locked engagement in an abutment arranged in the region of the container neck. Since the engagement means, in the form of the inwardly inclined wall sections, are not present across the entire circumference of the tamper-evident band, and additionally slots are present, the configuration of which further reduces the use of material, the demand for plastic material can be reduced significantly by up to 5%. In addition, the wall section cannot be moved inwardly in the radial direction, whereby the tamper-evident ring is held at the retaining ring and can only be pulled over it when the circumference of the tamper-evident band is being stretched. The tamper-evident band is securely held at the retaining ring by the wall sections such that the pre-scored elements tear reliably before the retention of the wall sections is overcome. The wall sections, however, are flexible or movable outwardly in the radial direction. In this way, the wall sections can be removed from the injection mold or the injection molding tool with little effort. For the same reason, the application force for pressing on the closure cap is considerably reduced compared to the prior art. Expanding the tamper-evident band, which can result in permanent damage to the closure cap, is essentially prevented during demolding and pressing-on.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a container comprising a container neck and a closure cap having the above-described features, which can be screwed onto the container neck and unscrewed therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional advantages and features will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the schematic representations. In the drawings, which are not true to scale:

FIG. 1: shows a side view of a closure cap including a tamper-evident band;

FIG. 2: shows an isometric view of the closure cap from FIG. 1 in a first position;

FIG. 3: shows an isometric view of a container neck and the closure cap from FIG. 1 in a second position;

FIG. 4: shows a side view of the closure cap and of the upper portion of a container;

FIG. 5: shows a perspective view of the tamper-evident band including retaining protrusions in a second embodiment, wherein the threaded part is unscrewed from the container neck;

FIG. 6: shows a perspective view of the tamper-evident band from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7: shows a longitudinal sectional view through the tamper-evident band from FIG. 5 in a perspective view; and

FIG. 8: shows a detailed view of an inwardly inclined wall section of the tamper-evident band with visualized angles of inclination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a closure cap, which in the overall is denoted by reference numeral 11. The closure cap 11 is held captively at a container 13, and in particular at a bottle 13. The closure cap 11 comprises a cylindrical threaded part 15, a tamper-evident band 17, and two first, outer retaining strips 19 a, 19 b and two second, inner retaining strips 21 a, 21 b.

The threaded part 15 comprises a bottom 23 and a first cylindrical jacket 25 having an open rim 27. An internal thread 29 is formed on the inside of the jacket 25. The container 13 comprises a container body 31 and a container neck 33 adjoining the container body 31. The container neck 33 is designed as a second cylindrical jacket. An external thread 35 is formed at the container neck 33, which cooperates with the internal thread 29. In this way, the threaded part 15 can be screwed onto the container neck 33 and unscrewed therefrom. The closure cap 11 closes the pouring opening 37, which is provided within the container neck 33.

The tamper-evident band 17 is held at the container neck 33 in a form-locked manner. For this purpose, an annular protrusion is formed on the outside of the container neck 33, beneath which protrusions 39, formed at the inside of the tamper-evident band 17, can extend. The tamper-evident band 17 can be rotated relative to the container neck 33. As is shown in FIG. 2, the first and second retaining strips 19 a, 19 b, 21 a, 21 b are cut out of the tamper-evident band 17 above the protrusions 39. The protrusions 39 are thus not in the way of the retaining strips.

The first retaining strips 19 a, 19 b each have a first end 41 a, 41 b and a second end 43 a, 43 b. The first ends 41 a, 41 b are fixedly connected to the open rim 27. The second ends 43 a, 43 b are fixedly connected to the tamper-evident band 17. In this way, the closure cap 11 is held captively at the container 13.

The second retaining strips 21 a, 21 b each have a first end 45 a, 45 b and a second end 47 a, 47 b. The first ends 45 a, 45 b are fixedly connected to the open rim 27. The second ends 47 a, 47 b are fixedly connected to the tamper-evident band 17.

The first retaining strips 19 a, 19 b and the second retaining strips 21 a, 21 b are cut out of the tamper-evident band by way of cuts having predetermined shapes and, in a first position, in which the threaded part 15 is screwed onto the container neck 33, are located within the tamper-evident band 17. The second retaining strips are arranged within the first retaining strips and are shorter than the first retaining strips. When the threaded part 15 is unscrewed from the container neck 33, the first and second retaining strips 19 a, 19 b, 21 a, 21 b are pulled out of the tamper-evident band into a second position.

The cuts, which will be described in greater detail below, impart a C shape to the first and second retaining strips 19 a, 19 b, 21 a, 21 b. The first and second retaining strips thus each comprise a first leg 49 a, 51 a and a second leg 49 b, 51 b. The first and second legs 49 a, 51 a, 49 b, 51 b are each connected to one another by an arc 53 a, 53 b, 55 a, 55 b. The first ends and second ends 41 a, 41 b, 43 a, 43 b correspond to the ends of the first legs 49 a or of the second legs 49 b of the first retaining strips. The first ends and second ends 45 a, 45 b, 47 a, 47 b correspond to the ends of the first legs 51 a or of the second legs 51 b of the second retaining strips. The arcs 53 a, 53 b, 55 a, 55 b face one another.

For the sake of clarity, the reference numerals of the cuts are only apparent in FIG. 2. The second retaining strips 21 a, 21 b directly adjoin the first retaining strips 19 a, 19 b and are separated therefrom by first C-shaped cuts 57 a, 57 b. The first and second legs 49 a, 49 b, 51 a, 51 b are in each case separated from one another by second cuts 59 a, 59 b, 61 a, 61 b. To ensure that the first retaining strips 19 a, 19 b can be transferred from the first position into the second position and moved out of the tamper-evident band 17, these are separated by third cuts 63 a, 63 b from the tamper-evident band 17 or cut out of the same. The second retaining strips 21 a, 21 b are separated by fourth C-shaped cuts 65 a, 65 b from the tamper-evident band 17 and, due to the fourth cuts, can be transferred into the second position when the threaded part 15 is being unscrewed.

The second cuts 59 a, 59 b of the first retaining strips 19 a, 19 b are connected to the third cuts 63 a, 63 b. The second cuts 61 a, 61 b of the second retaining strips 21 a, 21 b are connected to the first cuts 57 a, 57 b. In this way, the first and second retaining strips 19 a, 19 b, 21 a, 21 b can be pulled out of the tamper-evident band 17 when the threaded part 15 is being unscrewed, and be unfolded into the second position.

The fourth cuts 65 a, 65 b are placed in such a way that a web 67 is formed at the tamper-evident band 17 between the two second retaining strips 21 a, 21 b.

The cuts have a precisely predefined length, so that the first and second retaining strips 19 a, 19 b, 21 a, 21 b have a precisely matched length. Surprisingly, it is thus made possible for the first retaining strips and the second retaining strips to cooperate so as to become latchingly engaged in the second position, whereby the threaded part 15 is fixed when the first and second retaining strips are in the second position. The first retaining strips and the second retaining strips can form a snap-on hinge in that, in the second position, the second retaining strips are bent, and the two first retaining strips are tensioned. The threaded part 15 is snapped into the second position and does not interfere with the user by changing its position. The threaded part 15 also cannot tilt into the flow of liquid when liquid is poured from the container 13, since it is held in the second position by the first and second retaining strips 19 a, 19 b, 21 a, 21 b.

In the first position, the first and second retaining strips 19 a, 19 b, 21 a, 21 b are held in the tamper-evident band by the C shapes thereof. As a result of the first and second retaining strips being located in the tamper-evident band 17, they indicate that the threaded part 15 has not yet been unscrewed, and the closure cap 11 has not been opened. It is therefore not mandatory for the threaded part 15 to be connected to the tamper-evident band 17 by additional pre-scored elements 69. However, a plurality of pre-scored elements 69 may be provided between the open rim 27 and the tamper-evident band 17, as is shown in FIG. 1.

According to the following description of FIGS. 5 to 8, the protrusions 39 can be designed in another embodiment. The Swiss patent applications with application numbers 01467/19 and 01695/19 relate to this embodiment of the protrusions 39, the priorities of which are claimed and the content of the disclosures of which is hereby incorporated by reference in the present patent application. Slots 81 are provided at the tamper-evident ring across the circumference of the tamper-evident band 17. Each of the slots 81 includes an upper edge 83 and a lower edge 85. The upper edge 83 is formed by a circular arc-shaped section of the tamper-evident band 17. The lower edge 85 corresponds to the free rim of a wall section 87 that is inclined inwardly in the radial direction. Due to the inward inclination of the wall section 87, the lower edge 85 has a smaller radius than the tamper-evident band 17, and can thus strike against an abutment of the container neck 33 when the threaded part 15 is unscrewed from the container neck 33. The abutment is implemented by a retaining ring 89, which is formed at the container neck 33 beneath the external thread 35. When the threaded part 15 is being unscrewed, the lower edge 85 engages on the retaining ring 89 in a form-locked manner, whereby the tamper-evident band 17 is even held reliably at the retaining ring 89 with high axial forces.

Each wall section 87 comprises a first sub-section 91 and two second sub-sections 93. The first sub-section 91 represents an inwardly folded jacket section and may have a planar design. The second sub-sections 93 adjoin the inwardly facing sides of the first sub-section 91, connecting it to the tamper-evident band 17. The second sub-sections 93 can be curved or planar and face one another obliquely toward the inside. The lower edge 85 of the slot 81 corresponds to the free rim of the first sub-section 91 and of the second sub-sections 93 and is located in a plane 95 shown in FIG. 8. The plane 95 may be oriented perpendicularly to the center line 97 of the closure cap 11. These described design features of the wall section 87 have the advantage that the wall section 87 can rest with the entire lower edge 85 against the retaining ring 89 and does not yield toward the top when subjected to axial tensile force. The tamper-evident band 17 is thus held non-detachably at the retaining ring 89 or can only be removed from the retaining ring 89 by being destroyed. An inward movement of the first sub-section 91 in the radial direction is prevented by the provision of the second sub-sections 93. An outward movement of the first sub-section 91 in the radial direction, however, is possible. This movement is flexible, and the wall section 87, after having been pushed outwardly radially, returns to the inwardly inclined original position thereof. This has the further advantage that the closure cap can be easily demolded and pressed onto the container neck 33 using little force. The removal from an injection mold and the pressing onto a container neck 33 can be carried out as a result of the flexibility of the wall section 87, without the risk of the wall section 87 being damaged.

The inclined wall sections 87 may have a reduced wall thickness compared to the remaining tamper-evident band 17. FIG. 8 shows that the region of the lower edge 85 has the lowest wall thickness. The above-described flexibility of the wall section 87 is thus further improved radially to the outside. Proceeding from the lower edge 35, the wall thickness of the wall section 87 increases linearly toward the bottom.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show the tamper-evident band 17 without the threaded part 15. It is easily apparent in FIGS. 7 and 8 that an annular bead 99, on which the upper edges 83 rest, is formed at the tamper-evident band 17 above the slots 81.

A first and a second angle of inclination 101, 103 are plotted in FIG. 8. The first angle of inclination 101 indicates the inclination of the first sub-section 91 in relation to the plane of the lower edge 85. The first angle of inclination 101 has a size between 60 and 80 degrees or between 65 and 75 degrees. The larger the first angle of inclination 101, the better is the stability of the wall sections 87 with respect to the vertical force actions or axial tensile forces, caused by the threaded part 15 being unscrewed. The first angle of inclination 101, however, must not become too large since otherwise the retaining ring 89 cannot sufficiently extend there-beneath.

The second angle of inclination 103 indicates the inclination of the slot 81 in relation to the plane of the lower edge 95. The straight connecting line 105, which represents the inclination of the slot, is a connection of the upper edge 83 to the lower edge 85 in a plane spanned by the center line 97 and the straight connecting line 105. The second angle of inclination 103 is included by the straight connecting line 105 and the plane 95. The second angle of inclination 103 has a size between 30 and 50 degrees, or between 35 and 45 degrees. The larger the second angle of inclination 103, the more easily the container closure 11 can be removed. 

1. A closure cap for closing the pouring opening of a container, comprising: a cylindrical threaded part including an open rim and an internal thread, which can cooperate with an external thread of a container neck of the container, a tamper-evident band, which is designed to be held at a protrusion formed at the container neck, and a retaining device including a first and a second end, the first end being fixedly connected to the open rim of the threaded part, and the second end being fixedly connected to the tamper-evident band, the retaining device comprising two first outer retaining strips and at least one second inner retaining strip, the at least one second retaining strip being arranged between the first retaining strips, and the first retaining strips being longer than the at least one second retaining strip.
 2. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the first retaining strips and the at least one second retaining strip can be extended from a first position, in which they are arranged within the tamper-evident band, into a second position, in which they are arranged outside the tamper-evident band.
 3. The closure cap according to claim 2, wherein the first retaining strips, in the first position, are formed inside the tamper-evident band and have a C shape.
 4. The closure cap according to claim 2, wherein the at least one second retaining strip, in the first position, is formed inside the tamper-evident band and has a C shape.
 5. The closure cap according to claim 2, wherein the first retaining strips and the at least one second retaining strip cooperate so as to become latchingly engaged in the second position, whereby the threaded part is fixed when the first and the at least one second retaining strips are in the second position.
 6. The closure cap according to claim 2, wherein the first retaining strips and the at least one second retaining strip form a snap-on hinge in that, in the second position, the at least one second retaining strip is bent, and the two first retaining strips are tensioned.
 7. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein two second retaining strips are present.
 8. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the first and second retaining strips are formed of the tamper-evident band by way of cuts at the tamper-evident band.
 9. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein in the first position, the second retaining strips are separated in each case from the first retaining strips by a first cut.
 10. The closure cap according to claim 7, further comprising a web is formed at the tamper-evident band between the two second retaining strips.
 11. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the first and second retaining strips each comprise a first and a second leg, the first and second legs being connected to one another by an arc, and the first legs including first ends that are fixedly connected to the open rim of the threaded part, and the second legs include second ends that are fixedly connected to the tamper-evident band.
 12. The closure cap according to claim 11, wherein in the first position, the first and second legs are in each case separated from one another by a second cut.
 13. The closure cap according to claim 11, wherein the arcs of the first retaining strips or the arcs of the second retaining strips face one another in the first position.
 14. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the first retaining strips are in each case separated from the tamper-evident band by a third cut.
 15. The closure cap according to claim 14, wherein the second retaining strips are in each case separated from the tamper-evident band by a fourth cut.
 16. The closure cap according to claim 15, wherein the first and fourth cuts are C-shaped.
 17. The closure cap according to claim 14, wherein the second cuts of the first retaining strips and the third cuts are connected to one another.
 18. The closure cap according to claim 12, wherein the first cuts and the second cuts of the second retaining strips are connected to one another.
 19. The closure cap according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protrusions formed on an inside of the tamper-evident band, and the first and second retaining strips are formed of the tamper-evident band above the plurality of protrusions.
 20. A container, comprising: a container body; a container neck adjoining the container body; an external thread formed at the container neck; and a closure cap for closing a pouring opening provided within the container neck, the closure cap comprising: a cylindrical threaded part including an open rim and an internal thread, which cooperates with the external thread of the container neck, a tamper-evident band, which is held at a protrusion formed at the container neck, and a retaining device including a first and a second end, the first end being fixedly connected to the open rim of the threaded part, and the second end being fixedly connected to the tamper-evident band, the retaining device comprising two first outer retaining strips and at least one second inner retaining strip, the at least one second retaining strip being arranged between the first retaining strips, and the first retaining strips being longer than the at least one second retaining strip. 